Whether you’re looking for a retirement community for yourself or for a loved one, it is important to first understand what needs you are looking to have fulfilled. For some, a retirement home may require constant care and supervision for those who have more severe needs. For others, they may be simply looking for a safe place to live with others who are around the same age and have the same interests but are able to fully care for themselves. Niche retirement communities allow retirees to find a group of like-minded people to build a circle with. Some may consider retirement communities to be akin to detention facilities, but they can offer a very joyful experience for those searching for a great place for their retirement years. Let’s break down what it’s actually like living in a retirement home.
Finding your niche retirement community.
After years of hard work and saving, you’ve decided it’s time to move into a retirement community for over-55-year-olds. Perhaps you’re looking for a specific type of hands-on long-term care or more of a laissez-faire senior living home. There are many homes that cater to not only the medical needs of the individual but extracurricular desires as well.
Spaces for artists like dance studios, music studios, and art studios are offered in many places. Some communities are more tailored to health-specific needs, offering access to state-of-the-art cardiovascular equipment, swimming pools, yoga, and dance classes, and personal trainers to keep you in the best shape and good health. If mental stimulation is more your desire, then a community catered to gaming activities may be just the ticket for you.
Senior citizens have a love for playing games, so finding a home that has access to a plethora of games is imperative for many looking to continue honing their gaming skills. Card games and board games are major players in keeping life exciting while learning to develop skills in order to best your last score or beat the reigning champion in a rematch. Whether it’s Scrabble, bingo, Yahtzee, or chess, board and card games are great ways to keep spirits high. You can even customize a deck of cards through Shutterfly with personal photos for a fun touch that brings back memories.
Important aspects of senior living communities.
Some seniors worry that relocating to a retirement home may hinder their freedom and that their quality of life will go down, but this doesn’t need to be the case with all communities. If outdoor activities are important to you or your loved one, opt for a home with access to nature. Having healthy social relationships is a significantly higher predictor of longevity and is associated with reduced rates of depression and better cognitive health. While it may sound intimidating and scary to enter a new life with people you don’t know in an unfamiliar place, having access to strong social relationships is believed to be the secret to a long and happy life.
Whether you’ve recently retired and you’re planning your next move or you’re planning the next steps for an old loved one, choosing the right retirement community is extremely important. Also, remember that retirement is supposed to be fun! We work our entire lives to be able to save up and enter retirement, so this is a time to be excited about the possibility of total freedom, a moment to learn how to paint or finally beat your significant other in a game of Texas hold ’em. Going into retirement is a privilege and should be seen as such. The choices for which community to move to are endless, so enjoy making the choice and look forward to living out the rest of your life with friendship and fun.
